Social Chatter: Henrik Stenson’s Open record-breaking victory is the greatest ever - Jack Nicklaus

James Matthews rounds up the reaction to Henrik Stenson’s record-breaking victory at the 2016 Open Championship.

Henrik Stenson’s victory at the 2016 Open Championship is the greatest ever - so says the greatest ever himself.

Jack Nicklaus took to Facebook to label Stenson’s sensational duel with Phil Mickelson at Royal Troon as the best ever finish to an Open - even better than his own epic battle with Tom Watson at Turnberry back in 1977.

Stenson created history with his three-shot win over Mickelson helping him to post a record score of 20-under par in the Open.

It was achieved in a dramatic battle with the American, who had won the 2013 Open Championship by three shots with Stenson the runner-up on that occasion.

This time around, it was Stenson who came out on top in a birdie and eagle fest, equalling the record low total in a major and equalling the lowest ever round too with his closing 63.

Stenson’s peers, who had largely failed to tame the Royal Troon test themselves, were in awe of his display.

Even Piers Morgan was impressed!

Mickelson missed out despite posting a 65 of his own on the final day, and there was praise for the American’s performance which on any other day would have been enough for victory.

Stenson becomes the first Swede to win one of golf’s majors and that fact was not lost on his fellow tour stars, who all took time to congratulate him.

Danny Willett, who won the Masters in April and who played with Stenson on the opening two days at Troon, was quick to point out Sweden already had won half a major this year.

That’s because the Sheffield-born Englishman’s mother is Swedish-born Elisabet.

And there was an important piece of advice for Stenson from the man who won the 2011 Open Championship - Darren Clarke.

It wasn’t long after lifting the Claret Jug that Clarke was tucking into a Guinness or two, and he had a word of warning for Stenson ahead of the Swede’s celebrations.